Europa League: Who Needs What Tonight

IT’S the final round of the Europa League groups with 16 teams through to the last 32 and eight more places up for grabs.

Here’s an at-a-glance look at the sides who have made it and those still fighting to qualify.

Group A

Molde are through and Fenerbahce need a point at home to Celtic to qualify ahead of Ajax. The Dutch side’s boss Frank de Boer knows there is a slim for his side but hasn’t given up hope.

De Boer rates his side’s chances at “five per cent” and said: “It’s just like in the casino. Usually you lose, sometimes you win. Hopefully we have luck on our side.”

Group B

Liverpool are already through and Bordeaux out with Sion and Rubin Kazan vying for the other spot. Second-placed Sion need a point against Liverpool at home if Rubin win at Bordeaux and a draw in Switzerland will give Jurgen Klopp’s side to spot. Daniel Sturridge is again injured for the Mersey men so Divock Origi is in line to start.

Group C

This has already more or less been settled with the only real issue being which side from Krasnodar or fellow qualifiers Borussia Dortmund – both on 10 points with the former having the edge on head to head – will finish top after their matches at Qabala and at home against PAOK Salonika respectively.

Group D

Behind pool winners Napoli there is a three-way battle for qualification between second-placed Midtjylland, Bruges and Legia Warsaw who play the Italian side away. Bruges travel to Denmark knowing a win will see them through.

Group E

Villarreal and Rapid Vienna are both already through and level on points as they prepare to battle for top spot in games against Viktoria Plzen away and Dinamo Minsk at home respectively.

Group F

Qualified Braga are at eliminated Groningen while Marseille will only surrender a last-32 spot to Slovan Liberec if they lose to them away.

Group G

Lazio and St Etienne have already qualified as winners and runners-up respectively ahead of their clash in France so Dnipro v Rosenborg is also a dead rubber.

Group H

This one is tight with only Skenderbeu out of the running to qualify ahead of their home clash with Lokomotiv Moscow while Sporting Lisbon’s game against Besiktas in Portugal. Any two from three can go through with Besiktas on nine, Lokomotiv with eight and Sporting on seven.

Group I

Last season’s semi-finalists Fiorentina have a job to complete when they play Belenenses at home. The second-placed Italians need only a point against their Portuguese visitors to book their spot in the next round along with confirmed pool winners Basel who are at Lech Poznan. Lech and Belenenses could still progress themselves with wins.

Group J

Monaco are in a tricky situation with the third-placed French side requiring a win at Tottenham and for Anderlecht to lose or draw at home against bottom-placed Qarabag if they are to make it through.
Spurs have already qualified while all three other teams remain in contention for a last-32 place. Harry Kane won’t be involved for the Londoners but Mauricio Pochettini says he won’t make many changes.

Group K

It’s simpler here with Schalke and Sparta Prague both having qualified ahead of their trips to Asteris Tripolis and APOEL Nicosia. Schalke are two points clear at the top.

Group L

Athletic Bilbao head into their home game against AZ Alkmaar having qualified as winners while Augsburg can only overtake Partizan Belgrade in second place if they triumph in their meeting in Serbia by a 3-1 scoreline or better having lost by that result at home.

Bless you, MrF, just like in the last round of games you’ve provided another “who needs what” preview for our benefit. The cluster of fixtures is daunting and it’s not easy to get a handle on some club’s requirements at this stage.